Orangemen, an association of Protestants to support and defend the Protestant succession to the British throne and the Protestant religion in Church and State, as settled by the Bill of Rights and Act of Settlement of 1688. It had its origin in William, Prince of Orange—hence its name—on his arrival in England to accept the crown. The first declaration of its objects and principles was drawn up in November 1688 at Exeter by the prince's chaplain, the famous Dr Burnet, at the suggestion of Sir Edward Seymour, and subscribed by the leaders who had invited the prince to England—pledging themselves 'to stand by the prince and one another,' and to 'persevere until the liberties and religion of England should be effectually secured.' This declaration was in force till 24th February 1696, when a scheme for the invasion of England by James, helped by France, was revealed to both houses of parliament. This led to a second declaration of the association, which was signed by 420 members of the House of Commons, by 83 peers, by the corporation of London, and other municipalities and counties in England, and thus 'four-fifths of the nation were combined in one vast club.' It was also signed by every member of the Irish House of Commons except one. After the death of William the association remained quiescent till the reign of George III., when in 1795 it was vigorously revived in consequence of the discovery of treasonable societies in England and an approaching rebellion in Ireland. It has existed ever since. It cherishes the memory of William and holds anniversaries of the principal struggles in Ireland, such as the siege of Londonderry, the battles of the Boyne (1st July) and Aughrim (12th July), and the day of the landing of William at Torbay (5th November). The structure of the organisation is similar to that of freemasonry, although not a secret society. In consequence of the tactics of its opponents it has been most prominent in Ireland, but wherever ultramontane principles are propagated within the British dominions the Orange Society exists, as in Canada and Australia. Its membership is more than half a million. Its objects are carried out by lodges, individual or private, district, county, or provincial and national—all united by one grand lodge in each country. Every lodge is opened by prayer and reading a portion of Scripture. Each member must be a Protestant, and pledges himself to maintain its principles. A lodge is guided by a master, secretary, treasurer, and other office-bearers. The grand lodge is representative, and is held usually every twelve months, although power is given to summon it in any case of emergency. There is also an imperial grand council, composed of delegates from the grand lodge of every country within the British dominions. It meets every three years in the country which is selected from time to time. This council is guided by an imperial grand-master. Attempts have been made in the British parliament to break up the organisation and to declare it illegal, but its laws and ordinances are in compliance with the statutes of the imperial parliament. In 1890 the Canadian parliament passed, after much opposition by the ultramontanes, an Act of Incorporation of the Grand Lodge of British America.
See Burnet's History; Boyer, Kennett, Harris, Rapin, Ralph, Dalrymple, Trevor, Macaulay, Torriano, and the laws and ordinances of grand lodges.